'This Week' Transcript: John Brennan, Sens. Cornyn and Menendez

AMANPOUR: And as we turn to our roundtable this morning, we start
with a massive rally that packed the National Mall yesterday that speaks
volumes about these divisive times. Comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen
Colbert cast partisanship aside in a music-and-comedy stand-up routine
for civility and reason.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC)

AMANPOUR (voice-over): The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear was
less politics and more just a fun day out in the sun.

With entertainment featuring Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock and others, faux
dueling rockers on the peace train. And the crazy train.

(MUSIC)

It wasn't the Beatles, but the message was come together.

(MUSIC)

JON STEWART, HOST, DAILY SHOW: Everyone has a right to be
patriotic. Everyone.

(UNKNOWN) (singing): It's the greatest strongest country in the
world and there's no one more American than we.

STEWART: The image of Americans that is reflected back to us by our
political and media process is false. It is us through a funhouse
mirror, and not the good kind that makes you look slim.

AMANPOUR (on camera): What are you fed up with?

(UNKNOWN): I just don't like the way that our politicians aren't
talking to each other.

(UNKNOWN): I think that it's raising awareness in the young
community -- in the young generation now, and I think that's what's
important.

(UNKNOWN): It's great to be able to actually have a conversation
about being reasonable and being sane, as, you know -- in a time when
there seems to be so much anger.

STEWART: We work together to get things done every damn day. The
only place we don't is here or on cable TV!

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

AMANPOUR: And joining me now, George Will, Arianna Huffington of
the Huffington Post, Cokie Roberts, political strategist Donna Brazile,
and also Dick Armey, head of Freedom Works and Tea Party organizer. And
ABC's senior congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl. Thank you all
for being here.

George, nothing wrong with a day out for civility and reason?

WILL: Nothing wrong with that.

AMANPOUR: I saw you rhythming a little bit there.

(LAUGHTER)

WILL: Nothing wrong with that until you begin to equate civility
with the absence of partisanship, as though there's something wrong with
partisanship.

We have two parties for a reason. We have different political
sensibilities. People tend to cluster. We call them parties, and we
have arguments, and that's called politics.

AMANPOUR: Some called it poison. Some called it paralyzed. What
do you think? Should there be partisanship? Is it an inevitable role
of society, a fact of life?